The Fall of Troy (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Headquarters | Mukilteo, Washington , United States |
| Products | Music albums, EPs, singles |
The Fall of Troy is a post-hardcore ensemble hailing from Mukilteo, Washington, comprising Thomas Erak (guitar, vocals, keyboards), Andrew Forsman (drums), and Jon-Henry "Hendo" Batts (bass, screamed vocals). Initially, Tim Ward held the bassist role until his exit in 2007, after which Frank Ene took over until the band's 2010 dissolution. Ward rejoined for their 2013 reunion but departed again in 2016, with Batts stepping in as his replacement. Renowned for their intricate and energetic musical arrangements alongside vigorous live shows, their track "F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X." achieved recognition through inclusion in various video games. Their discography includes six studio albums, two EPs, and two singles. Prior to forming The Fall of Troy, the members were part of The 30 Years War, which released two EPs.
The 30-Years-War (2002)
While attending Kamiak High School as a freshman, Erak served as vocalist and guitarist for The Tribune, a band that issued one EP before disbanding mid-2002. Subsequently, he established The 30 Years War with classmate Mike Munro and drummer Andrew Forsman. This lineup featured Erak on guitar and vocals, Munro on second guitar, Tim Ward on bass, and Forsman on drums. They independently released two EPs titled Martyrs Among the Casualties and Live at the Paradox.
As they readied themselves for another recording session, Munro departed due to academic obligations. Following his exit, the group adopted the name The Fall of Troy by selecting a historical term at random from a textbook.
Self-titled debut album (2003-2004)
In May 2003, the trio recorded their debut full-length album at The Hall of Justice studio in Seattle with producer Joel M. Brown. All members were approximately seventeen years old and completed the project within one week during spring break. The album was initially released on November 4, 2003, through Lujo Records and later reissued on August 22, 2006, by Equal Vision Records.
Shortly after this release, they independently put out the Ghostship EP in 2004. Early demo versions featured keyboard contributions from Jesse Erickson but lacked vocal tracks. Songs Parts I, IV, and V served as previews for the concept album Phantom on the Horizon, while "Macaulay McCulkin" appeared on their 2005 album Doppelgänger.
Doppelgänger and mainstream success (2005-2006)
After receiving an invitation from Equal Vision to submit a demo, the band collaborated again with producers Gordon Edward Greenwood III and Dustin Kochel, creating promotional tracks such as "Tom Waits" and "Laces Out, Dan."
Their second album, Doppelgänger, was recorded in March 2005 and released on August 16 of that year on both CD and vinyl formats featuring alternate artwork. This release was followed by extensive touring through early 2006.
The single "F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X." gained significant mainstream attention with a music video released on June 6, 2006, receiving heavy airplay on MTV and FUSE. Additionally, this track was featured in video games including Saints Row, MLB 2K6, and Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, broadening their audience reach.
Manipulator (2006-2007)
In December 2006, the group entered the studio alongside producer Matt Bayles—known for work with Minus the Bear, Botch, Pearl Jam, and Mastodon—to record their third album titled Manipulator. The release received favorable reviews including a four out of five rating from Kerrang! and seven out of ten from Metal Hammer.
Nouela Johnston from People Eating People contributed vocals and keyboard parts. The album combined fresh compositions with previously written pieces such as "Seattlantis." Its lead single, "Cut Down All the Trees and Name the Streets After Them," premiered on MySpace accompanied by a music video released on August 8, 2007.
To support Manipulator, the band toured alongside Deftones during summer 2007. Footage from this tour was used for the single "Ex-Creations," which was released on MySpace on January 16, 2008.
In late November 2007, while touring with Coheed and Cambria, bassist Timothy Ward departed due to stress-related reasons and was succeeded by Frank Ene from "...Of Stalwart Fads". The trio continued touring throughout spring 2008 with acts such as Foxy Shazam, The Dear Hunter, and Tera Melos.
Phantom on the Horizon (2008)
Phantom on the Horizon was released on November 28, 2008, as an EP encompassing all five segments of Ghostship, which Erak characterized as "a single composition divided into multiple tracks." The band showcased the entire album during their tours across the West and East Coasts, complemented by selected songs from their broader discography. A limited run of only 3,000 units was produced (although a misprint indicated 3,300), available for purchase online and at live events. After the 1,500 physical copies allocated for online sales sold out by December 1, a digital MP3 version was made accessible on platforms such as iTunes. In 2009, a vinyl pressing followed: 1,000 clear vinyl records were sold through Hot Topic, while another 1,000 orange vinyl copies were offered via the band's official website.
In the Unlikely Event, breakup, and new bands (2009–2013)
On February 26, 2009, The Fall of Troy announced their plans to enter the studio with producer Terry Date to work on the successor to Manipulator, expected to include approximately twelve tracks and targeted for a summer release. On April 30, it was disclosed that Rody Walker from Protest The Hero would feature as a guest vocalist on the album. Their fourth studio effort, In the Unlikely Event, was officially released on October 6, 2009.
The band declared their dissolution on February 26, 2010, following a spring tour across the United States. Subsequently, Thomas Erak established Just Like Vinyl and joined post-hardcore group Chiodos in January 2013. Andrew Forsman took over Erak’s drumming role in The Monday Mornings during 2010. Tim Ward relocated to Idaho and began releasing demos under various aliases including Messed Up Coyote and Cool Timmy. Frank Ene initiated Chineke in 2010, serving as lead guitarist and vocalist.
On February 21, 2011, Thomas announced the release of a live video titled The Fall of Troy: Live at the Glasshouse, which was recorded in Pomona, California on October 12, 2009.
In August 2011, Enjoy The Ride Records reissued Doppelganger on vinyl with a limited pressing of 1,500 copies—1,000 black and red split editions were retailed at Hot Topic, and an additional 500 copies featuring a "bone splatter" design were sold online. Later that year in November, they also re-released Manipulator as a double LP with a total of 1,000 units pressed: half featured blue, pink, and orange split colors exclusively available through Enjoy The Ride Records’ website; the other half displayed spiral swirl patterns and were sold at Hot Topic.
Reunion, OK, and Mukiltearth (2013-present)
In December 2013, The Fall of Troy’s original lineup reunited for three consecutive shows in Austin, Texas, performing their first three albums (The Fall of Troy, Doppelgänger, and Manipulator) in their entirety. During the VIP reunion event, they revealed intentions to release a complimentary album in 2014. By December of that year, Thomas Erak departed from Chiodos to dedicate his efforts to The Fall of Troy’s upcoming album and family obligations. The band embarked on a U.S. tour in 2015 celebrating the tenth anniversary of Doppelgänger, supported by acts such as And So I Watch You from Afar and Kylesa.
Initially set to perform a solo acoustic showcase at SXSW in 2015, Erak instead took the stage backed by Chon (band), delivering an energetic performance that was cut short by fire marshal intervention.
Following two years of hints and anticipation, The Fall of Troy self-released their fifth studio album OK on April 20, 2016. It was distributed via a pay-what-you-want system alongside limited-edition vinyl pressings. The announcement included streaming availability for the track "401k" and a music video for "Inside Out." Additionally, alternative and instrumental editions titled OK#2, OK#3.1, and OK#3.2 were released.
On September 19, 2016, bassist Tim Ward unexpectedly exited during a performance in Minsk; he was subsequently replaced by Jon-Henry Batts from Just Like Vinyl, who also provides live backing vocals.
A documentary chronicling the band’s reunion tour leaked its trailer in June 2018 but remains unreleased due to ongoing legal complications and editing challenges despite extensive footage shot with Audiotree.
In July 2020, The Fall of Troy announced their album Mukiltearth, which was released in August. This collection includes six re-recorded tracks originally from their early EP Martyrs Among the Casualties (from when they performed as The 30 Years War), alongside four new compositions. Following this announcement, singles "We Are The Future" and "Chain Wallet Nike Shoes" were released across YouTube and streaming services.
Musical style and influences
The Fall of Troy is recognized for their complex and technical approach, unconventional song arrangements, and dynamic stage presence. The band’s signature sound is shaped by Thomas Erak’s alternating guitar patterns and rhythmic chord progressions, often employing unusual time signatures that set them apart within the post-hardcore scene. Their compositions frequently transition sharply between melodic passages and dissonant segments, featuring a blend of clean singing and harsh screams that are typically shared between Erak and Ward. Despite the intricate nature of their music, the group places equal importance on maintaining a strong rhythmic groove alongside structural complexity. Their sonic palette incorporates elements from mathcore, post-hardcore, math rock, progressive rock, screamo, hardcore punk, progressive metal, and grindcore.
Their early inspirations include bands from the Seattle area such as Botch, The Blood Brothers, Sunny Day Real Estate, Raft of Dead Monkeys, and Unwed Sailor, as well as the Texas-based post-hardcore band At the Drive-In. Additionally, they hold New Jersey’s The Dillinger Escape Plan in high regard. Drummer Andrew Forsman specifically mentions Billy Rymer as an influence and speaks highly of The Dillinger Escape Plan’s debut album, Calculating Infinity. Forsman also draws creative inspiration from electronic musicians like Aphex Twin.
Artists who have cited The Fall of Troy as an influence include Chon and Closure in Moscow.
Band members
Current lineup
- Thomas Erak – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion (2002–2010, 2013–present); bass guitar (2019–2020)
- Andrew Forsman – drums, keyboards, percussion (2002–2010, 2013–present)
- Jon-Henry Batts – bass guitar, unclean vocals (2020–present; touring 2016–2017, 2018–2020)
Former members
- Frank Ene – bass guitar, unclean vocals (2007–2010)
- Tim Ward – bass guitar, unclean vocals (2002–2007, 2013–2016)
Former touring musicians
- Drew Pelisek – bass guitar, unclean vocals (2017–2018)
Timeline
Studio albums
| Year | Album details | Highest chart rankings | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 |
US Rock Top Rock Albums |
US Indie Independent Albums |
US Heat Top Heatseekers | ||
| 2003 | The Fall of Troy
|
— | — | — | — |
| 2005 | Doppelgänger
|
— | — | 35 | 22 |
| 2007 | Manipulator
|
76 | 23 | 5 | — |
| 2009 | In the Unlikely Event
|
123 | — | 17 | — |
| 2016 | OK
|
— | — | — | |||
| 2020 | Mukiltearth
|
— | — | — | |||
Extended plays
| Year | Album information |
|---|---|
| 2004 | Ghostship Demos
|
| 2008 | Phantom on the Horizon
|
Singles
| Year | Single information |
|---|---|
| 2020 | We are the Future
|
| 2020 | Chain-Wallet, Nike-Shoes
|
Compilation contributions
- "Mr. Moustache" (cover of Nirvana; featured on tribute album Doused in Mud, Soaked in Bleach) (2016, Robotic Empire)
Videography
- "Tom Waits (Demo Version)" (Equal Vision, March 11, 2005)
- "Whacko Jacko Steals the Elephant Man's Bones" (Equal Vision, October 21, 2005)
- "F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X." (Equal Vision, May 26, 2006)
- "Cut Down All the Trees and Name the Streets After Them" (Equal Vision, August 8, 2007)
- "Ex-Creations" (Equal Vision, January 16, 2008)
- "The Fall of Troy: Live At The Glasshouse" (Equal Vision, February 21, 2011)
- "We Are The Future" (Self-released, July 17, 2020)